Oliver's first two weeks in Toddler Class

It has been an emotional two weeks for Oliver since he has graduated from Infant to Toddler section. For the last two weeks and every day, we left Oliver in Del-Care in the state of crying. It had left me leaving guilty. I have to keep telling myself that we have to go through this state and it is really a matter of time. For Oliver and any other child attending toddler class, it is really quite "premature" for them to be separated at such tender age, 18 months. Comparing to my time when we attended kindergarten, we were five years old. I was indeed much luckier.

I do notice some changes in him since he moves on to the toddler class:
- He can feed himself now (although still quite messy).
- He seems to have grown up so fast that he could understand almost every words we spoke.
- He seems to have huge appetite at home even though he had dinner in school. Wonder if he did not have enough or his dinner time was scheduled too early.
- He cried the moment we walked into Del-care and wanted us to carry him to school instead of walking. Gosh, I wonder how long it takes before Oliver will run towards the school laughing like what he did when he went to the infant section.

His state of hair aptly convey how he feels over the past two weeks

Oliver is 19th month old

Oliver's latest favourite plaything

Oliver at Jacob Ballas Children Garden

We went to Jacob Ballas Children Garden last week. Nice little garden for children. The water play area attracted Oliver the most, but we weren't quite prepared for the water play. Once of these days perhap, when Oliver recovered from his bronchilitis and when the HFMD would be less rampant. In the meantime, probably only our swimming pool is considered safe for Kiasu parent like me.

Oliver's Best Friend in School

For the moment, Oliver has to bring CJ7 to school for companionship.

Oliver's First Movie Outing

I never have the plan to bring Oliver to watch a movie. It is definitely a crazy idea. But we thought why not give it a try since I have four complimentary tickets to watch Kung Fu Panda.

Boon Heng brought his favourite nephew and niece along and Oliver enjoyed their company tremendously. Oliver was seen trying to get his jie jie's attention and even vying for Kor Kor's to carry him when we had McDonald supper after the show.

At the start of the movie, Oliver was quite terrified and jumped onto my seat at the first few minutes. But he quickly got settled down and watched the movie. It lasted for almost half an hour before he started fidgeting and longing for a walk up the cinema's stair.

It is memorable experience as I never thought I can actually watch the whole movie (about one hour) with Oliver around. I had wanted Oliver to experience the first few minutes in the cinema and then leave for home. Boon Heng did miss some part of the show when he had to bring Oliver out of the cinema to walk. If you are wondering whether Oliver did disturb other movie goers, I think probably not. It was a private event and behind us, many more kids were walking around and seen climbing the stairs like Oliver.

First Day of Child Care

Oliver's overdue transfer to the childcare finally happened today. And what a stressful day it was for him and for us. Devoid of his usual caregivers and surroundings, Oliver didn't took to his new environment too well, and most of the time that we were there to spy on him, he was wailing and generally refusing to be coaxed by his new teachers.

It was quite pitiful and by the time we fetched him in the evening, his voice sounded quite hoarse from all the crying. Some of the teachers were telling us that Oliver is "strong-willed" and will probably take a longer time to adjust than most of the other kids. Well, I guess that is a better way of saying that Oliver is stubborn. Apparently he was also on a hunger strike and refused to drink and eat, although he did eat a little when he was brought back to the infant care section during dinner, after all the wailing.

Hopefully he will really get over his separation anxiety quickly. Of course that's easier said. Both me and Sophia used to be like that and hated the first few days of school as well.

Oliver's last week at Del-care infant section

... and it is also Siti's. And we found out that Siti joined Del-care shortly after Oliver enrolled in the infant care section in April 2007. Such coincidence. I wonder if Oliver is conscious of Siti's leaving Del-care, but I can definitely tell he was affected last Friday and not himself at all. Perhap he was not feeling well due to the MMR jab on Monday. Yet, Oliver in his old good self would usually be running around even if he was not feeling well. So I guess he could sniff in the air that there will be a big change in his life - Siti's leaving and he's moving to the Tots class. Poor Oliver, I hope he will not be lovesick for too long.

Siti, all the best to you and do keep in touch. You have been a wonderful caregiver and a mentor to Oliver. Oliver knows how much love you have for him and I think you do know how much Oliver loves you from the way he runs and hugs you with his kisses almost everyday when the time has come for him to say goodbye to you and go home.

Pa Pa

A week ago or so, I asked Oliver to called me "Pa Pa". Not expecting him to do so... just one of our many requests that we probably ask of Oliver daily. Just as well, Oliver also has many demands for us every day, asking for milk, to read a book to him, to turn on the TV, to massage his tired legs at night... etc etc

Anyway, to my surprise, he repeated the word Pa Pa after me. He's calling me!

So since then, he's been calling me Pa Pa upon request. And how sweet his voice. Even when asked to call "Mommy" he will still say Pa Pa.

Oliver and Little Heidi

Oliver is going to have a little 'mei mei' in September, and her name is going to be Heidi. Boon Heng and I had thought about the name 'Heidi' but it never occur to us initially to use the name. Yet, we now love the name 'Heidi'.



I think people from my generation will recall the cartoon Heidi. It was screened in the 80's and based on the novel "Heidi's Years of Wandering and Learning". And quite coincidently and unintentional, there is another novel 'Oliver Twist'. Both little kids are orphaned, and went through hardship at young age, but the endings are happy ones.



[Extract from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heidi]

Heidi's Years of Wandering and Learning (German: Heidis Lehr- und Wanderjahre), usually abbreviated Heidi, is a novel about the events in the life of a young girl in her grandfather's care, in the Swiss Alps. It was written as a children's book in 1880 by Swiss author Johanna Spyri. Two sequels, Heidi Grows Up and Heidi's Children, were not written by Spyri but by her English translator, Charles Tritten. The Heidi books are among the best known works of Swiss literature.[ Heidi is an orphaned girl initially raised by her aunt Dete in Mayenfeld, Switzerland.




[Extract from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_Twist]

Oliver Twist is born into a life of poverty and misfortune in a workhouse in an unnamed town[5] within 75 miles of London. Orphaned almost from his first breath by his mother’s death in childbirth and his father’s unexplained absence, Oliver is meagerly provided for under the terms of the Poor Law, and spends the first nine years of his life at a "baby farm" in the 'care' of a woman named Mrs. Mann. Along with other juvenile offenders against the poor-laws, Oliver is brought up with little food and few comforts.

Well organised

Look-alike Meter

Sleeping spells at home